Menstbual cycle indicating device



1950 I J. B. LANCASTER 2,535,431

MENSTRUAL CYCLE INDICATING DEVICE Filed May 23) 1949 INVENTOR. -1 John 5. Lancaster BY u g 6 MAM Patented Dec. 26, 1950 UNI TED .S TATES PAT EN T F Fl CE MENSTRUAL CYCLE INDICATING DEVICE John-B. Lancaster, Philadelphia, Pa. Application May 23, 1949,"Serial'No."94,870

"2'Claims. 1

This invention relates to calendars, andm'ore particularly to menstrual cycle indica'ting calendars.

It is common knowledge that the menstrual cycles are not the same 'in all women. In some cases menstruation occurs at-regular intervals, and although there are a greater number of menstrual cycles of 28 days in length, there are those whose 'cycles'are as short as 20 days while in others cycles as long as :50 days have been recorded.

.11; is also a matter of record :that'while some women have'regular cycles othersrnayxvary from one or two days up to as many as nine days.

The calculations used. in this invention to 'indicate Lthe'various phases of therm'enstrualcycles of women are based upon the 'rhythmtheoryas discovered by Drs. Ogino and :Knaus. This theory has been-proved "and accepted "by leading scientists and physicians inall parts of the world, and at the present time is being taught in more than 490 colleges and other institutionsof learning in the United States. A most complete description of this theory-maybefound on pages 47,48 and 49 of the book entitled The Rhythm" by 'Dr. L. J. La-tz. This book reached its "400 thousandths printing .in lQe'T.

Various devices have been suggested to:foretell the events of the menstrual cycle, but they are, in the main, so complicated 'as to prevent their use by any but'vely highly skilled persons, and even then with a likelihood of .error.

.It is the principal .object of the presentinvention to provide .a menstrual cycle indicating .device which is simple to operate and easy to understand.

I It is. a further object of the present invention to provide a menstrual cycle indicating device whichmay be adapted to accommodate .each and every cycle between 20 and 50 days in length, Whether the cycle is regular or of the varying type.

It is aiurther objectof the present-invention to provide a means of establishing the lengths and variations of .the menstrual cycle.

v It is a .further object of the present invention to provide a menstrual cycle indicating device which may be cheaply and easily constructediand which will be accurate and reliable to-use.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention Will be apparent from the specifications and claims.

The nature .and characteristic featureso'f .the invention will be more readily understoodfrom thefollowing description, taken in connection 2 with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in which:

Fig. lisa top plan view of the dial calendar.

Fig. 2-is a'top plan view of the pattern key.

Fig. '3 'is a top plan view of the base plate.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the guide pads.

i-Fig.-5 is atop plan view of the assembled invention with the pattern key inserted to show the procedure *forinscribin a menstrual cycle of 28 days, upon'the base plate, together with the-correspondingfertile period and days'o'f possible ovulation 'for that cycle.

Fig-'6 is a top plan'view of the assembled invention with the pattern key removed and'illustrates the inscriptions made upon the'base plate when cycles of '27, 2'8. '29 and 30 days in length havebeenselected.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the'line 'l--"l of Figure 6.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 8- 8 of Figure 2.

It should be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, and thatvarious modifications and changes may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring more particularlyto the drawings, the menstrual cycle indicating device, in accordance with the present invention, includes a disc or dial '10 of paperboard, or of other suitable fiat materiaL'having a circularly arranged indicia consisting of sixty-one equal parts, thirty-one of these parts H numbered consecutively and in a clockwise manner from '1 to 31, the remaining thirty parts [2 of the indicia numbered consecutively and in a clockwise manner from "1 to 30. 'These sixty-one divisions hereinafter called day spaces as each space represents one day. To further call attention to the particular part of the indicia H which is numbered from'fl to 31 the legend It lends assist-- ance, in a like manner the legend draws attention to the number of days in the indicia f2.

Acenter hole I! is1provided so that dial I 0 may.

be pivotallyattached to the baseplate by the eyelet '39 ass'hown in Fig. '7.

The base plate 30 has indicia 3! of thirty-one equal parts numbered from "20 .to '50 inclusive; -.each"num'ber representing the correspond-' ing day space from the day space indicatedby the arrow 34. This last mentioned day space is designated with the legend Stand isshown between .ltheilines a and 35b and for practical purposes .is .usedas the beginning of the .men-

' strual cycle. The indicia .31 is appropriately marked by the legend 32. The projection 36 allows ample room for the legend 33 and affords a convenient place to hold the device. The cutout portion 31, at the upper left part of the base plate, is for the convenience of turning the dial ill as may be seen in Figure 6. A center hole 38 is provided so that dial ll! may be pivotally attached by the eyelet 39 as shown in Figure 7.

The pattern key plate 20 is provided with three guide pads 40, 4| and 42. When the pattern key plate 28 is inserted between the dial It and the base plate 30, the guide pads serve as stops and afi'ord the correct positioning of the pattern key pattern key plate may be rotated so that the correct number of days in the menstrual cycle is exposed at the window 22 which is identified by the legend 23. The hole 2! provides a means for marking the base plate 30, preferably with lead pencil, and while the pattern key is still in "place marking the corresponding fertile pe-- riod 24 together with the days when ovulation may occur 25, 25 and 21 using the curved and notched cut-out for that purpose, all of which are correctly day-spaced from the cycle window 22, and marked with the legend 28 for the fertile period and the legend 29 for the days of possible ovulation. The fertile period cutout extends from the 12th day to the 19th day preceding the ensuing menstruation. The days of-possible ovulation being the 14th, 15th and 16th days which precede the ensuing menstruation; These have been properly day-spaced accordingly.

I Referring to Figure for illustration, a menstrual cycle of 28 days has been selected. By using the pencil to inscribe the base plate through the various cut-outs 2!, 24, 2'5, 25 and 21 the length of the cycle, the fertile period, and the days of possible ovulation will be observed on the base plate when the pattern key is removed. These markings will serve for all future references for a cycle of that particular length, and the corresponding dates upon which each will occur depends upon the date selected on the calendar dial as the first day of menstruation and adjusting the dial so that that date is centered at the arrow 34. The illustration in Figure 5 shows the 19th of the month as being the first day of menstruation, and the month containing thirty-one days. Let us assume this to be the 19th of January. The fertile period would extend from the 28th of January to the 4th of February, and the days of possible ovulation would be the 31st of January, the 1st and 2nd of February, and the date upon which the next menstruation falls due would be the 16th of February.

Referring to Figure 6 I have illustrated how my indicating device will appear when cycles of 27, 28, 29 and 30 days in length have been selected and inscribed accordingly. The pattern key has been removed, it having served its purpose. The calendar dial has been set to indicate that the first day of the latest menses occurred on the 19th of the month. Let us again assume this to he. the 19th of January. The fertile period in this case would extend from the 27th of January to the 6th of February. The days upon which. ovulation may occur would be the 36th and the 31st of January and the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th of February. The dates upon which the next menstruation is due would be the th, 16th, 17th and 18th of February. Should these dates extend beyond the 28th of February, count the 29th and 30th as the 1st and 2nd etc., etc.

plate as shown-in Fig. 5.- The The menstrual cycle being of such a personal matter among women, they are hesitant to tell exactly what it is; in many cases the length and variation are not known. This information is absolutely necessary if the rhythm theory is to be used. The present invention provides a means of ascertaining the lengths of the menstrual cycles as they occur. When these lengths have been reasonably established, the base plate which is a part of this invention can be properly inscribed, using the pattern key ,which is also a part of this invention for that purpose. In this manner the various significant phases of themenstrual cycle are plotted in direct relation to these cycles. The calendar dial which is also a part of this invention, is

- employed to relate these various significant phases of the menstrual cycles to the exact date each should occur.

The latest advancement in this field of science reveals that the ovum is susceptible of fertilization for a period of 36 hours at the most, and that ovulation should occur 14 to 16 days previous'to the first day of the ensuing menstruation. Let us assume, for the purpose of illustration, that the menstrual cycles have been found to be 27, 28, 29 and 30 days in length. The date upon which the next menstruation will begin is not precisely known, but from past experiences can be reasonably expected in not less than 27 days nor more than 30 days from the first day of theprevious menstruation. As illustrated in Fig. 6 the dates when ovulation may occur is clearly indicated.

It has been ascertained that when ovulation actually occurs, in most cases, there is a sudden rise in the'temperature, frequently accompanied by slight pains in the abdominal region. This temperature should be taken basally before aris-' ing in the morning, before eating, drinking,

smoking or any other activity. It has been fur ther revealed that the virile span of the male cell (spermatozoon) is 48 hours maximum, so that there is only a brief period of time when concep tion can take place; all of which illustrates the importance of determining those days upon which ovulation may occur.

The mode of operation will now be pointed out.

When the length and variations of the menstrual cycles are not known by: day and month, and another X is marked at this date on the ordinary calendar.

The length of a menstrual cycle is the number" of days from the first day of one menstruation to (but not including) the first day of the next menstruation.

The number of days in the latest cycle is counted, using the ordinary calendar.

This number is found on the scale marked Days in cycle and a small circle is made in the marking space beside that number, the same date will appear on the calendar disc scale as has been marked on the ordinary calendar.

Reset the dial, as previously explained, for the next cycle.

The first day of each menstruation is noted by day and month, and marked accordingly with an X on the ordinary calendar, checking the number of days in each cycle observing that the date on the calendar disc scale agrees with the date on the ordinary calendar, continuing in this manner until it has been reasonably established the number of days in the shortest and longest cycles.

When at least eight consecutive menstrual cycles have been recorded, the indicating device may now be inscribed in a permanent manner.

When the lengths and variations of the menstrual cycles are known The pattern key is inserted between the calendar disc and the base plate. The guide pads on the pattern key must be up against the calendar disc to insure perfect alignment.

The pattern key is rotated until the number which indicates the number of days in the shortest menstrual cycle appears at the window marked cycle.

A sharp pointed lead pencil may be used to fill in solidly the circular hole above the cycle window. Next, fill in the curved cut-out portion marked "Fertile Period, including the three projections which indicate the days upon which ovulation may occur.

Rotate the pattern key until the number is exposed which indicates the number of days in the longest cycle and fill in the circular hole at the cycle window and likewise fill in the fertile period cut-out portion together with the three projections, as before.

Fill in all of the other cycles between the shortest and longest, using the pattern key for this purpose. This will not be necessary if the variation is of three days or less.

Remove the pattern key. The menstrual cycle indicating device is now complete and ready for use. Wherever the calendar dial is set to indicate the first day of menstruation, the exact l dates of the fertile period and the projections showing the dates of possible ovulation will be clearly indicated, the dates when the next menstruation is due also is clearly indicated on the calendar dial. All of the other days, both before and after the fertile period, in each cycle, may be reasonably expected to be sterile.

I claim:

1. A menstrual cycle indicating device comprising a base plate having arcuately disposed indicia corresponding to the normal ranges of menstrual cycles and a fixed indicator for the first day 01' menstruation spaced circumferentially therefrom, a. disc rotatably mounted on said base plate and spaced inwardly with respect to said arcuately disposed indicia to provide a marking space on said base plate between the peripheral edge of said disc and said arcuately disposed indicia, said disc having a plane ring iereon equally divided radially into sixty-one divisions corresponding consecutively to the number of days in two calendar months of thirty and thirty-one days and indicia identifying each of said days, and a separable pattern key plate adopted for alinement with the peripheral edge of said disc, said key plate having a window for alinement with one of the cycle range indicia and a corresponding marking opening alined with said marking space, and said key plate having an additional marking opening alined with said marking space corresponding to the fertile period.

2. A menstrual cycle indicating device comprising a base plate having arcuately disposed indicia corresponding to the normal ranges of menstrual cycles and a fixed indicator for the first day of menstruation spaced circumferentially therefrom, a disc rotatably mounted on said base plate and spaced inwardly with respect to said arcuately disposed indicia to provide a marking space on said base plate between the peripheral edge of said disc and said arcuately disposed indicia, said disc having a plane ring thereon equally divided radially into sixty-one divisions corresponding consecutively to the number of days in two calendar months of thirty and thirty-one days and indicia identifying each of said days, and a separable pattern key plate adopted for alinement with the peripheral edge of said disc, said key plate having a window for alinement with one of the cycle range indicia and a corresponding marking opening alined with said marking space, and said key plate having an additional marking opening alined with said marking space corresponding to the period of ovulation.

JOHN B. LANCASTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 337,533 Streck Mar. 9, 1886 2,127,612 Marquia Aug. 23, 1938 2,476,100 Lancaster July 12, 1949 

